January 20, 2008

Bobby Fischer R.I.P.

"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God thethings that are God's". Mark 12:17As an American who has a token understanding of the conflictbetween patriotism and the religious life (personified by Cardinal Richielieu's top diplomat, Francois Leclerc du Tremblay, in Aldous Huxley's "Grey Eminence"), I recognize that Fischer refused togive up what was Caeser's. But perhaps this could be understoodin his troubled upbringing.He was psychologically unprepared for adult life.But he was the world's best chess player in his time, possiblyfor all time. His games are a must study for any chess player,and even the slackest among them, myself a strong candidate,can enjoy the beauty of his genius in his recorded gameswe can "click thru" move by move on the internet.I recommend an interesting DVD by Susan Polgar,"...Bobby Fischer's Most Brilliant Games".